The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-05-01
AMONG THE RED MEN.
A Missionary's Experience in
Indian Territory.
THE BANE OF THE COUNTRY
ChiIIs and Fever-The CheroAoe
The Habits, Modes of Lifeline
First Missionary
THE BANE OF THE COUNTRY

HERALD reporter yesterday had tne
Measure of meeting Mr.. Andrew Kim
hall who returned few days ago lroh
mission to the Indian Territory. he
left Salt Lake January IS, 1885, gong oy
wav of the Union Pacific to Denver
thence to Kansas City, and from thence
to yinita. a small railroad town in Indian
Territory. He was accompanied by
Mr.. James G. West, who had also peeh
called TO labor in that Territory. AT
Vinita small though it is, a bright little
paper is published, and it bears the very
annronriate name OF the Indian Chief
tain. From Vinita Mr.. klmbaii,
with a couple of converts, then
vent on to Catoosa, another
small railroad town, near wnlcn
10 situated the rancho of John A. Rich
ards. one of the first missionaries ever
in that region. Richards located there
first in 1857,
MARRIED AN INDIAN WOMAN
and cast his lot with the natives. he
raised quite a large family, but has
been a widower for some years past. AT
one time he was quite wealthy, but con-
siderable of his property, II not the
greater portion, was lost during the war
of the rebellion. They remained IN the
Verdigris country for about montn. II
is near here that the somewhat famed
Verdigris River-remarkaole 1or oeastlS
water-hows. The water is so traRlsa
that even stock refuse to drink 1t, unless
thirst drives them to it. From THIS
r noint the elders gradually penetrated
: further into the interior of the Cherokee
nation. and there made their head
5 quarters with Hon. w. 81. Hendricks, a
}, baIf-breed Cherokee, who received them
in the kindest manner. From this point
= trims were made into the surrounding
Il country in various directions, ana IN
nearly all the towns and pglces visited
the elders received very kind treatment;
: Owing to the absence OF bridges ana
l. other civilized improvements, ano tne
fact that all the travelling done was
e afoot, it can readily be imagined ina,
4 these excursions were not altogeC1ei
L pleasure trips, yet Mr.. w. Kimbali say:
both he and his companions enjoyed
Y, themselves most thoroughly. Not I'M
r, frequently, they were compelled u
i, wade rivers several times dur
mo the day. and then camp
r. in the, woods, without an!
v clothing save that upon their persons
I'd and this was not always OF the dryes
or most comfortable KIND. TINS man
RS ner OF traveling-and 1T was the ON
NO one that could be adopted-the eA
r. posure to the heavy rains and oeWs am
miasmatic influences peculiar 70 Una
81 region, were not without their efIects
a., a. and, in August Mr.. Kimball had hi
nf frst experience with the bane of tn
climate in which his lot had been cast
cbiIIs and fever. For twenty thre
ne DAYS he was very ill, and was doctore
ne for mis- aiIment by the Indians, and q
most hefore he had entirely recovered
bis Communion, who had also pee
ne stricken with the same disease, receive
ay notice of his release to return nom
This left
on NE. KIMBALL ENTIRELY ALONE
,,a at the only Mormon save the natives ar
Elder Richards-iu the Territory.
in las soon as 1 had partially
low covered" said Mr.. Kimball, lin cor
ng. pany with Elder James A. Richards,
made a tour to Briertown, thorough
the canyassed this and other places, al
ON then retu med to the Verdigris countr
we In the latter part of October, [ lie
for NV headquarters at Hendrick
ph- and M till the Dist of November. p
on in the time laboring in that vicinlt
lple preaching the Gospel whenever an
: portunity presented itself, and
I'M deayoring to make the opportunl
er a present itself, when none appeared
d at be IN sight. On that day, however
Is. was Joined by Elders AmmonGreen q
hnth from Wei
, Ga GA Comfy, All three then went off OF
ence tour to Caney Greek, and other pia
we're in that part of the country, the obj
being of course, to introduce my co
tho panions to the friends and acquall
E ances had previously made. On
rday way there we visited
pax THE CHEROKEE COUNCIL,
agog q body having the same powers {
the duties as the Territorial or State LIE
rom. iatures. Ur to the time of the arr
of nv companions was still shak
allied little at times, but after that
! the health improved rapidly. After 81
Il the visit to various points IN the "a
street Creek country, we worked our
than back to the Verdigris country and '
shortly afterwards joined by E
ested David Shand, of Manti. This arr
dwell completed our party, and S
!, and afterwards we divided
3, two in couples, Shand and Allen going {
IS 10, and Green and myself south and v
~ VIC This was our programme for the S
mer months and during our ramble
Utah were very kindly received by the
ng az dians. There were some of the wn
a w., however, who were inclined to be u
usual sad endeavored to prejudice the
,encer dams against US. A Methodist min
or two was particularly active in thi
va - gard, but they did not succeed. II
nm forS turn for the hospitality of the Ind
lie had we assisted them IN their laborS ii
IA the field,-planting corn, halling VI
latter plowIug and making ourselves ge
gentle ally useful. On this account as we
: IL any other,
lad no THE INDIANS BECAME OUR FRIENI
Y or SO
tn his and We were always welcome, when
!, a niEs resentatives c. other denonina
before we're not. The Indians like plain
pie, and the magnifcence of eli
coat and a white lie makes
feel as though they were scarcely
to the task OF entertaining the we